Network accessibility to any network attached device during reboot and power loss

a network attached device and power loss technology, applied in the field of network devices, can solve the problems of inability to determine the source of the fault or correct the fault, inability to use in-band management tools to determine the source of the fault, and inability to adapt etc., to achieve the effect of low power level, easy adapted to a small form factor, and readily stored in flash or other non-volatile memory

Active Publication Date: 2015-02-24
CISCO TECH INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Enables remote diagnosis and correction of network issues during boot-ups and power losses, ensuring accurate spare device inventory management, reducing the need for on-site interventions and minimizing theft risks by maintaining continuous network accessibility and visibility.

Problems solved by technology

This challenge often calls for remote network management strategies that include both in-band and out-of-band network management tools.
However, when a network router malfunctions, by way of example, traffic cannot flow through the network.
This creates a problem because the in-band management tools cannot be used to determine the source of the fault or to correct the fault.
Unfortunately, even out-of-band management tools are useless when the network administrator is trying to bring a networked device back on-line after it has been shut down.
This problem arises because when a network device is being booted, the device is non-functional during the boot process even if the out-of-band network is otherwise available.
Thus, the system administrator cannot use the fault manager tool to monitor or collect data from the device during boot-up to help pinpoint the source of the error.
This lack of visibility during the boot process is particularly troublesome when the error affects a device located at a remote site because a technician must be dispatched to diagnose the error on-site.
If the installed update was defective, the device may be unable to boot properly or may not be operable thereby rendering both in-band and prior art out-of-band management tools ineffective.
In other situations, the network device may lose power and go off-line.
With existing management systems however, the loss of power will take the device off both the in-band network as well as the out-of-band network and the administrator will not have the tools to determine the source of the problem other than to dispatch a technician to the site.
While network management is critical to maintaining the operation of the DCN, there are times when critical devices will fail.
Unfortunately, many network devices are very expensive so there is a great need to carefully manage the inventory of spare devices to ensure their availability in the event of a network failure.
Although the system administrator may count the spare devices on a periodic basis, the count may only be accurate at the time it was taken because expensive network devices are often theft targets.
Thus, the most recent inventory count may be grossly inaccurate if a theft of the spare devices has not yet been detected.

Method used

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  • Network accessibility to any network attached device during reboot and power loss
  • Network accessibility to any network attached device during reboot and power loss
  • Network accessibility to any network attached device during reboot and power loss

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0010]The preceding and other shortcomings of the prior art networks are addressed and overcome by the present invention. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the advantages of an out-of-band network management network are combined with a system that enables a network administrator to monitor a networked device during the boot process, when power is lost or to monitor a spare networked device that is only connected to the out-of-band network and not to the in-band network or a power source. In particular, the present invention provides a data communication network (DCN) that interconnects one or more network devices each of which include a connectivity manager processor (CMP).

[0011]The CMP functions as a communication bridge between an upstream network hub device and the network device. The CMP includes a low power microprocessor and an embedded operating system, which is preferably stored in nonvolatile memory, such as Flash memory. The CMP receives its power ...

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Abstract

A data communication network (DCN) having a plurality of network devices coupled to the DCN with at least one of the network devices having a “boot once” connectivity manager processor (CMP). The CMP receives its power over the DCN rather than from the power applied to the network devices. The CMP can execute special operating system code and maintain network connectivity even if the network device itself is powered off, is being booted or is otherwise non-functional. The CMP is also coupled to the network device's memory so that it may respond to out-of-band polling requests for device status information from network management tools. With CMP, network administrators can monitor the boot process of network devices, determine that a network device is non-functional due to power loss and can maintain an accurate inventory status of spare network devices that are stored un-powered in a spares closet.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 913,590 filed on Aug. 5, 2004, entitled “Network Accessibility To Any Network Attached Device During Reboot And Power Loss,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to computer networks and more particularly to network devices that are accessible over a network connection during reboot or power loss.[0003]As computer network technology and security threats evolve, it becomes very important to optimize both network operation and security. This challenge often calls for remote network management strategies that include both in-band and out-of-band network management tools. In-band management tools are widely used and typically employ either a telnet connection to a network device, such as a server or a router, or management tools based on the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). SN...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & AuthorityPatents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H04L12/28H04L12/42H04L12/10H04L12/26
CPCH04L43/04H04L12/10
InventorGOURLAY, DOUGLAS A.GANDHI, PRASHANTMCKEE, MARKABUABARA, OMAR G.
OwnerCISCO TECH INC